Developing the Long Throw-In

The
best throw-ins come from players with good arm strength, but technique rules. The players
I've had who developed very long throw-ins used a heavy ball over about a one year period
to develop an excellent throw. The first kid, who was born in 1971 and played for me years
ago, made a home-made heavy ball by wrapping a size 5 with lots of duct tape. Other kids
have purchased heavy balls from Kwick Goal and gotten similar results.

As for a progression, I can offer this simple one,
done after stretching, and then a second series of exercises we do on other days
(maintenance).

4) Partners with ball, seated 5 yards apart,
throwing ball to partner's chest. Leg motion and foot action is removed. Emphasis is on
coordinating back, head, and arm motion. Move partners further apart as is appropriate for
their age until maximum range is reached.

5) Partners with ball, 10 yards apart. Stationary
feet, throwing ball with back and arms. Knees slightly bent, but feet remain glued to
ground. You get balance, but don't have to worry yet about coordinating step timing and
motion or starting position.

6) Individuals, no ball. Work on simple foot drag
coordinated with arm motion. Get them to pick a favorite foot, and to stay with it. Limit
to a couple of steps, drag and throw, still no ball. Choreography. Be observant at this
step.

7) Partners with ball, 15 yards apart or more,
depending on age. Complete throw-in to partner's feet. Don't increase distance until
technique is smooth. Dwell at this phase again and be observant.

8) Throw-in tournament - each player gets three
throws from a cone mark. Coach puts down a cone after each throw, moves cone to best
(longest). Don't coach, just let the game happen. Before you start, put cones along the
side every 5 yards. After each player completes throws, record approximate length of best
throw.

Here's the fun part. In every single case so far,
kids improved their throws about 10 yards after the first practice, and another 10 yards
or more after another practice.

Maintenance

1) Groups of 4 at corners of grid, sized according
to age and throwing ability. Each grid has one heavy ball. Partners throw heavy ball to
next player along grid edge. Do not catch heavy ball, pick it up after the first bounce.

2) Increase the grid distance, add 1 regular soccer
ball. Start ball at corner of grid diagonally opposite from player with heavy ball.
Players throw to next player along grid edge.

3) Add 1 more regular soccer ball, so that there
are 3 balls and 4 players.

4) Put the heavy ball away, increase the grid size,
slow down the pace. Longer throws with regular ball, allow time for technique. The
strength work is over.

5) 8v8 to full-size goals with goalies. Play with
hands and throw-ins forward to attack. Score by throwing ball into net. For throws that
don't reach the goal, first player that touches ball gets to pick it up. No out of bounds.
No marking.

6) Ultimate Soccer - adds movement and support.
Like Ultimate Frisbee, with soccer ball. Player with ball can not move, but must throw
ball. Players throw to member of their own team, score by throwing ball into net. One
player can oppose throw, but can not grab ball. Balls that hit the ground go over to
opponents. Opponents can also win ball by intercepting throw. Lots of marking and
tracking, transition, support, combination play. Encourage players to try outside shots
with long throws.

7) 8v8 to full-size goals with goalies. Four
designated throw-in players work outside each touch-line in each half. Score directly from
throw-in by volley, half volley, or header. If goal not scored, teams fight for
possession, move ball to attacking half, play ball wide for throw-in player. Encourage
attacking players near throw-in player to make bending runs to back post, turning hips
toward throw-in so that they can adjust to the throw. Players starting away from the
throw-in make slant runs to near post. Rotate throw-in players.

8) Play 8v8 with no restrictions. If you want more
throw-ins, narrow the field.

Ultimate Soccer

Step 6 is not entirely throw-in stuff, but your
kids will love it and you can play a variation, using a real Frisbee, as a warm-up game.
Year in and year out, this is one of the most popular warm-up activities I have ever
encountered. It never fails and the kids get the idea right away. Make sure that there is
only one player marking the Frisbee, and that the player is never closer than arm's
length. Make sure that the player who catches the Frisbee does not move with the Frisbee
after the catch. Pivoting to open hips to throw to other parts of the field is OK.
Opponents get Frisbee after giving up goal, when Frisbee hits ground, or by intercepting
pass.

You will find, as you observe, who your genuinely
energetic and enthusiastic players are, as they are willing to go forward to support, and
you will notice stand-around players because they are never near the Frisbee. After 10
minutes or so, switch to a soccer ball, same rules. Score by throwing into net.

After 10 minutes with throwing, put the ball on the
ground and pass with feet. Whoops - now you have a real game with support. Player with
ball can not move, only one opponent may mark player with ball. Player with ball can turn
ball to pass in a different direction. Score by shooting on goal.

Finally, allow player with ball to move. You are
playing game and having a good time. There is very little coaching required. Praise the
players who are quick to support. Slow support is no support. Also encourage players not
to pass to unsupported players who don't have a shot.